Court records from Dominica, a British colony in the Leeward Islands, January 1814 (CO 71/51)
Our collections contain ideas, language and imagery from original records which reflect historical perspectives and attitudes of the time. Some of this language will be considered offensive. However, we think it important to show them as accurate representations of the record to help us understand the past.
Transcript
| 1814 Jan[uar]y 15 | John Pierre | Mr Grano | 1814 Jan[uar]y 15 John Pierre Mr Grano Co[ur]t Martial | Attempting to return to the Runaways with Provisions & having been runaway 2 Months | To be hanged | Hanged : Head cut off & put on a Pole. Body hanged on a Gibbet, 16 Jan[uar]y 1814 |
| 15 & 16 | Peter | Hillsbro' Estate | ditto | Exiting a Mutiny among 20 Negroes of the Estate & harvesting them with provisions & while runaway | To be hanged | Hanged. Head cut off & put on a pole. Body hanged on a Gibbet 18 Jan[uar]y 1814 |
| 16 | Hector | Mr Lionne | ditto | Runaway | To receive 100 lashes & to be worked in chains 6 months | Received 100 lashes 16 Jan 1814 & sold 21st April |
| Rachel | Mr Grano | ditto | ditto | To receive 30 lashes & to be worked in chains 3 months | Received 30 lashes & delivered to owner 16th April 1814 | |
| 22 | Dick & Daniel | Hillsbro' Estate | ditto | ditto | To receive 100 lashes | Rec[eived] 100 lashes each, & released to owners att[ention] 22nd Jan 1814 |
| Sarah | ditto | ditto | ditto | To receive 50 lashes | Pardoned & released 30th Jan[uar]y | |
| Hetty, Penny & Placide | ditto | ditto | ditto | To receive 40 lashes each | Received 40 lashes each & returned to owner's att[ention] 22nd Jan[uar]y | |
| 28 | Joseph | Mr Dubocq | ditto | supplying Runaways with salt & with provisions | Not guilty | Discharged |
| Pierre | Mr Polus Estate | ditto | Encouraging the Neg[roe]s upon that estates who had absconded to stay away | To receive 100 lashes & to be worked in chains 6 months | Rec[eived] 100 lashes & died in Jail 6 april | |
| Charles | Mr Bonnjean | ditto | Being runaway near 17 months | ditto | Rec[eived] 100 lashes |
1. Read Source 1. Look at the names on the document.
- These enslaved people originated in Africa. Are these African names? Who named them?
- How many names do the enslaved Africans have? Why weren’t they given surnames?
- Which enslaved people are male and which are female? Does their gender make any difference to how they were treated by the court?
- Dominica had been a French possession until 1763. Which of the slaves have French names?